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Downloading Help

How do I download a file?

Windows: Right-click on the file link until a pop-up menu appears. Choose "Save This Link As..." or "Save Target As..." from the pop-up menu. A dialog box will appear. Choose where you would like the file saved, then click the "Save" button.

Mac OS: Click and hold your mouse button down on the file link until a pop-up menu appears. Choose "Save This Link As..." or "Download Link To Disk..." from the pop-up menu. A dialog box will appear. Choose where you would like the file saved, then click the "Save" button. If given a choice, make sure to choose "Source" not "Text" in the "Format:" pop-up menu in the dialog box.

If you are downloading a .jpg file (usually a photo or an illustration), you can also click the file link, and wait for the image to load completely in your browser window. Click on the image and hold your mouse button down until a pop-up menu appears. Choose "Save This Image As..." or "Download Image To Disk..." from the pop-up menu. A dialog box will appear. Choose where you would like the image saved, then click the "Save" button. NOTE: We do not recommend loading high-resolution images into your browser. If you do not have sufficient memory allocated to your browser application, it could crash. See also "How long do I have to download a file?"

What is the best time to download a file?

Generally, the time of day should not be a factor when downloading files. However, there are so many variables that can ultimately affect the quality and length of the download process, you may not be successful on your first try. We recommend that if you are having difficulty downloading files during the day, try again in the evening or on the weekend. During these times, the traffic on the web site and the North American portion of the internet is usually lighter.

How long do I have to download a file?

There is no time limit. Even if you do not download your file immediately (if you choose not to, if you quit your browser, etc.) you have permanent access to all of our downloads.

How do I decompress my file after I have downloaded it?

Below are instructions for decompressing these files using StuffIt for the Macintosh and WinZip for Windows.

Mac

Open StuffIt Expander. An integral tool for decompressing a wide variety of file types, Stuffit Expander is often included with other software packages. If you're having trouble locating the program, search for it via the Mac OS Finder (Cmd + F). If you cannot find it on your system, download it from http://www.stuffit.com/mac/.

From the StuffIt menu, choose File > Expand.

In the dialog box, navigate to the folder where the file you want to decompress resides. Double-click on the file, or highlight it and click Open.

You will see a dialog box with a progress bar. When it is finished you will find your decompressed file in the same location as the original compressed file.

Windows

Open the WinZip program from the Start menu. If it is not in the Start menu, go to Find > Files and Folders... and type in "WinZip". If you cannot find it on your system, download it from http://www.winzip.com/.

From the WinZip menu, choose File > Open Archive and navigate to the folder where the file you want to decompress resides.

When the file opens, you will see all included files in the WinZip window.

Click the Extract button and choose a folder in which to place your files.

Once you have selected your folder, click the Extract button.

Your files are now decompressed and sitting in the folder you specified.

I had difficulty or delays when downloading a file.

Sometimes after clicking on the link to download the file, the download process will appear to start and stop sporadically or even quit unexpectedly. This is usually caused by an interruption in the flow of data between our server and your web browser. This may be caused by heavy internet traffic or a large number of users attempting to access our server at the same time. If you suspect that the file did not download correctly or if you got an error message during the download, try it again.

I received an error while decompressing a file.

Chances are the file was not completely downloaded. This can occur when there is a "burp" in the stream of data between our web server and your computer. Generally this happens when our site is extremely busy or when internet traffic is heavy. Try downloading the file again at another time. We are continually monitoring the performance of the web site to avoid overloading and to make sure that you will be able to download the files as needed.

Why do I get a window full of garbled text when I download a file?

Your web browser is not set up correctly to handle the .hqx or .zip compressed file formats. Instead of saving the file to your hard drive, your web browser is reading the downloaded information as if it was raw text. Since the browser has not been set up to do anything specific with the download, it simply loads the information into a window. You will need to configure a helper application to either save the downloaded file to your hard drive or automatically decompress it. You can force most browsers to save the file directly to disk by pressing the option key (Mac OS) or the alt key (Windows) when you click on the download link.

I can't find the file I just downloaded.

By default, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer save downloaded files to preset directories or folders. If you are using a Mac, files will usually end up in either the same folder as the Netscape Navigator application or on the Desktop. Windows users will usually find downloads in the C:\TEMP\ directory, or will be prompted as to where to save the download. Download locations may be specified in the Preferences section of your browser. If you are not sure what directory or folder your downloads are being saved in, open up the preferences window in your browser and check the location.

Can my Anti-Virus or Security Programs effect downloads?

The anti-virus software (Norton, MacAfee, etc.) installed on your PC could prohibit the download and installation of our software. We advise, if possible, briefly disabling your anti-virus software before downloading and installing software from our website.